Editing Clarkstown radio transmitter

{{Short description|Demolished longwave transmitter in Ireland}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox transmitter
|name        = Clarkstown
|image       = [[File:03-Clarkestown mast 2007-09-06.JPG|260px]]
|caption     = The Clarkstown site
|map_name    = island of Ireland
|map_relief  = yes
|map_caption = Clarkstown in Ireland
|coordinates = {{coord|53.462649|-6.677589|type:landmark_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
|location            = Clarkstown, [[County Meath]]
|height              = {{convert|248|m|ft|0}}
|built               = 1988
|demolished          = 2023
}}
[[Image:04-Clarkestown mast 2007-09-06.jpg|thumb|265px|right|The site entrance]]

The '''Clarkstown radio transmitter''' was a [[longwave]] radio [[transmitter]] in [[County Meath]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The mast was located approximately {{convert|3.5|km|sigfig=2}} east of the village of [[Summerhill, County Meath|Summerhill]], in a field south of the [[R156 road (Ireland)|R156]] [[Regional road (Ireland)|regional road]] at Clarkstown. At 248 metres high, it was more than double the height of the [[Spire of Dublin|Spire]] in Dublin.

==History==
Constructed in 1988 for the transmission of [[Atlantic 252]] on 252&nbsp;kHz, it used one {{convert|248|m|ft|adj=on}} high [[Guyed mast|guyed]] steel framework mast with triangular cross section, insulated from ground. The original transmitters were two 300 kilowatt Continental transmitters built by [[Varian Associates]] of [[Dallas]]. These were replaced in 2007 by a single 300 kilowatt [[Transradio]] TRAM 300L transmitter.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.transradio.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99%3Airland2007&catid=1%3Aaktuelle-nachrichten&Itemid=79&lang=en|title=DRM Long Wave Transmitter in Summerhill (Ireland)|access-date=22 September 2023|archive-date=5 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205133443/http://www.transradio.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99%3Airland2007&catid=1%3Aaktuelle-nachrichten&Itemid=79&lang=en|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> The ground around the mast and the entire transmission site bed are lined with copper for conductivity. The site has an [[Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975|ITU-cleared]] transmission power of 500&nbsp;kW by day and 100&nbsp;kW at night but was later only capable of operating at 300&nbsp;kW by day and 100&nbsp;kW at night.

Atlantic 252 ceased operations on 2 January 2002 and sports radio station [[TEAMtalk 252]] briefly took over the frequency for a few months in 2002. The transmitter was later taken over by RTÉ Networks Limited (now [[2RN (RTÉ Networks)|2RN]]). It was used for the [[AM broadcasting|AM]] version of [[RTÉ Radio 1]] on 252&nbsp;kHz from 2004 to 2023, and was the sole source of [[RTÉ Radio 1]] on AM from 24 March 2008, when the [[medium wave]] [[Tullamore transmitter]] on 567&nbsp;kHz was taken off air.,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/anger-as-rte-to-switch-off-medium-wave-band-1269254.html|title=Anger as RTÉ to switch off medium wave band|first=Laura|last=Noonan|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=19 January 2008|accessdate=18 December 2010}}</ref> to 2023.

In 2007, the transmitter was carrying a [[Digital Radio Mondiale]] multiplex overnight, featuring Radio 1, [[RTÉ Digital Radio Sport]], [[RTÉ Digital Radio News]] and the [[WRN Broadcast|World Radio Network]], before reverting to AM transmission for the daytime. DRM tests since ceased, with AM transmissions operating full-time once again until closedown in 2023.

On 24 September 2014, RTÉ announced that broadcasting of RTÉ Radio 1 on 252&nbsp;kHz would cease on 27 October 2014,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2014/0923/645685-rte-radio-1-moves-from-longwave-transmission/|title = About RTÉ| website=[[RTÉ.ie]] }}</ref>  however following representations from Irish listeners in the UK and others, that date was postponed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/115190-2-115190|title = RTÉ Longwave 252 to stay until closure by June 2019 – with digital replacement planned}}</ref> On 31 March 2023, RTÉ announced that the longwave service would be discontinued on 14 April of that year.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0331/1367393-long-wave/ RTÉ Radio 1 long wave 252 service to end next month] RTÉ News, 2023-03-31.</ref><ref>[https://www.rte.ie/eile/2021/0301/1200837-keep-listening/ Keep Listening - How to Listen to RTÉ's Radio Services]</ref> As planned, this did happen.

The mast was felled on Thursday 27 July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-27 |title=VIDEO: Going, going, gone!… Old Atlantic 252 mast in Moynalvey comes down |url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2023/07/27/video-going-going-gone-old-atlantic-252-mast-in-moynalvey-comes-down/?fbclid=IwAR34qawh2R-H2nBgkuy4HrdmH_KCsIHYxgBmUlSP6G5D8GWRCYuK34CX9V8_aem_AcS4-tHIjy6bkgDk_dpNfptj9Xk4w0e7-nuPysGk0DJrFksL-u7debHzXSJyiDzEVKw |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Meath Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Timeline==

* 1988: Construction of Clarkstown Transmitter by Radio Tara (RTÉ/RTL)
* 1989: Launch of [[Atlantic 252]] on 1 September 1989, a pop music station aimed at UK and Irish market
* 2002: 2 January, closure of Atlantic 252
* 2002: 11 March, launch of [[TEAMtalk 252]], aimed at UK and Irish market
* 2002: 30 June, TEAMtalk 252 closes
* 2002: RTÉ take over the running of the Clarkstown Transmitter following demise of TEAMtalk
* 2004: January, official launch of [[RTÉ Radio 1]] on Long Wave
* 2004: While the [[Tullamore transmitter]] was offline for maintenance Clarkstown provided Radio 1's AM service
* 2007: Major upgrade of transmitter
* 2007: RTÉ runs DRM tests, in parallel with analogue AM service
* 2008: 24 March, closure of RTÉ Medium Wave service leaving 252 Long Wave as the only AM Broadcast by RTÉ. Services which were on Medium Wave transferred to Long Wave.
* 2008: 1 December, launch of [[RTÉ Radio 1 Extra]] which was extra content not broadcast on FM was now relayed on Long Wave 252
* 2014: RTÉ announces plans to close Long Wave 252, September 2014
* 2014: RTÉ postpones closure plans until 2017 <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1219/667931-rte-longwave/|title=RTÉ's longwave service extended until 2017|website=[[RTÉ.ie]] |date=19 December 2014}}</ref>
* 2017: RTÉ announce a further postponement of closure plans until June 2019
* 2019: Oireachtas Communications Committee announce the rebuilding of the antenna system and postponement of closure plans at least until 2021
* 2023: March 31, RTÉ announces the closure of 252&nbsp;kHz<ref>[https://radiotoday.ie/2023/03/rte-radio-1-names-the-day-to-turn-off-252-long-wave RTÉ Radio 1 names the day to turn off 252 Long Wave] Radio Today, March 31, 2023.</ref>
* 2023: April 15, RTÉ stops broadcasting on long wave
* 2023: July 27, The Clarkstown Mast is demolished

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:01b-Clarkestown mast 2007-09-06 CROP. jpg.jpg|Close up of the mast
Image:01a-Clarkestown mast 2007-09-06.JPG|Wider shot of the mast
Image:02-Clarkestown mast 2007-09-06.JPG|Guy lines stabilizing the mast
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of tallest structures in the world]]
*[[List of tallest structures in Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125352/http://tx.mb21.co.uk/features/252/summerhill.shtml – pictures from mb21
* {{Structurae|id=20016268|title=Summerhill Transmitter}}
*http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b45496
*[[Irish Aviation Authority|IAA]] information on the mast [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928230012/http://www.iaa.ie/safe_reg/pdf/EI_Amdt_A_2006_46_D_en.pdf here] (page 20).
*https://web.archive.org/web/20041113154742/http://members.lycos.co.uk/gregsradio/newpage0.html

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in County Meath]]
[[Category:Radio masts and towers in Europe]]
[[Category:Mass media in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Transmitter sites in Ireland]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1988]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:2023 disestablishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Former radio masts and towers]]